10/04/23

Future of European Ports Policy

European Cruise Council ConferenceBrussels, 14 September 2010

José Fernandez GarciaPrincipal AdministratorEuropean Commission

DG Mobility & Transport Maritime Transport Policy: Ports & Inland Waterways

EUROPEANCOMMISSION

picture: courtesy of the Port of Hamburg

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Basis: Communication on a European Ports Policy COM(2007) 616, 18.10.2007

.A policy document, not a legislative proposal.Commission’s assessment of the current situation.Guidance on the application to the port sector of the Treaty rules on the fundamental freedoms.Commission’s general objectives for ports.An action plan for the realisation of those objectives

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Ports policy Action plan - Reminder (1/2)

. Need: Level Playing Field – clarity for investors. Action: State Aid Guidelines – Extension of Transparency Directive to all ports (after State Aid Guidelines)

. Need: Reconcile more capacity with respect of environment. Action: Guidelines on the application of environmental legislation to port development

. Need: Dialogue in ports. Action: European sectoral social dialogue committee for ports (up to social partners)

. Need: Simplification of procedures for Short Sea Shipping. Action: Proposal on the European Maritime Transport Space without Barriers (21 January 2009)

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.Need: Improvement of administrative treatment of ships.Action: Policy document on the deployment of e-maritime.Need: Enhancement of hinterland connections of ports.Action: Evaluation of ports’ hinterland connection status and needs on the occasion of the review of the TEN-T

.Need: Efficiency of transport chains and their hubs such as ports.Action: Elaboration of performance as well as socio-economic port indicators

Ports policy Action plan - Introduction (2/2)

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.Commitment by the Commission to adopt Guidelines on State aid to ports

.Objective: ensuring legal security both for public and private investors in port facilities

.Debate by the economic and legal doctrine on the nature of public investments in infrastructure, also within the Commission

. Transfer of competences on State Aid to transport to DG Competition – continued cooperation among Commission services

Main ports policy actions (1/3) – State aid Guidelines

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.Requested by port authorities and terminal operators

.Commission working group with sectoral experts: port authorities, terminal operators, EuDA, environmental NGOs, academics, Member States

.Guidelines cover Birds Directive, Habitats Directive (regulates “Natura 2000” areas) and Water Framework Directive, not waste, noise nor emissions

. 3-tiered structure: Communication, Guidelines, Technical Support Document

Main ports policy actions (2/3) – Environmental Guidelines

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.Encouragement by the Commission to social partners to engage in a formal social dialogue through a Social Dialogue Committee

.Process is in the hands of social partners

. 2 x 2 social partners: employers (FEPORT/ESPO), employees (ETF/IDC)

.Representativity in 2 x 27 committee an important issue – about to be resolved among social partners

.Official request to Commission by common letter - crutiny of legitimacy by DG Employment

.Agenda set by social partners – consensus on issues

Main ports policy actions (3/3) – Social Dialogue

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.PPRISM study on socio-economic port indicators (Jan 2010 - Dec 2011)

. Future study on port labour (2011)

.E-maritime initiative (Communication & Framework Directive; 2010/2011)

.New White Paper for Transport (end 2010)

. TEN-T revision process (2011)

.Review of SSS / MoS policy

.Review of Marco Polo Programme – possible MP III

Further ongoing and future actions related to ports

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Thank you for your attention!

José Fernandez GarciaEuropean Commission

Directorate-General for Mobility and TransportMaritime Transport Policy: Ports and Inland Waterways

Office: DM 28 03/17B-1049 Brussels

Tel. +32 2 296.92.59Fax +32 2 298.75.58

Jose.Fernandez-Garcia@ec.europa.eu

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/index_en.html